Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: SunkenCiv

Again, the sheer number of planets in the universe is not evidence in itself. Most of them will be around stars that are unstable flare stars, multiple star systems, don’t have enough heavy elements, or are too short-lived. Then there are the planets themselves. Most will not be in the habitable zone, are gas giants, have no water, etc. It is said that without a moon the size of ours, Earth’s tilt would be too unstable for life. We don’t know how rare that is in the universe. There is also a magnetic field that is needed, perhaps a fractured crust, etc. etc. There could be dozens, hundreds, or thousands of other factors which would make life impossible. Earth itself has had several extinction events which very nearly wiped out all life. I don’t think it’s pessimistic to consider this, I think it’s realistic.


23 posted on 08/16/2022 8:16:26 AM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies ]


To: Telepathic Intruder
The reason this is being studied and discussed is, the sheer volume of stars is so vast and has grown so much, that the ability to ascertain exact characteristics hasn't been reached yet. You're speaking as if you know, and if you did, you'd be the only one.

32 posted on 08/16/2022 8:27:06 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (The book "Rare Earth" was a giant pile of nonsense.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies ]

To: Telepathic Intruder

Thanks for the partial list of requirements for life. It’s clear that there are many stars, but that the chance origin and sustainment of life is infinitesimally small. How this plays out in the Drake equation is a matter of speculation IMO.

There are some people who really don’t want to believe in extraterrestrial life. There are those, many more I think, who really want to believe in extraterrestrial life.

I saw Kaku on TV and he proceeded as though an infinite number of universes was a matter of fact, not speculation. That is one way to blow up the numerator in the Drake equation. As far as I know, there is no reason to believe that there is more than one universe.


40 posted on 08/16/2022 8:43:03 AM PDT by ChessExpert (Neither a Democracy nor a Republic. "I did that," Joe Biden.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson